This is a supernatural roleplaying community set in the fictional location of a tropical island chain called Pala. Players may choose whether to participate in the community via forum, chat, or both.
The Pala Islands (
map)
Pala is a British Colony on an archipelago formed over millions of years by volcanic activity. Geologists believe that there were four major volcanoes that contributed to the rise of the islands, but all four have long since died out, leaving the beautiful island cluster in their absence. Because of the lack of volcanic activity, the islands have stopped expanding and rising, and are now actually slowly being eroded away by the sea.
Since the islands formed independently from the mainland, they contain their own eco-system. Many species of animal and insect found in Pala are native and endemic to the islands, such as the
black Empyrean marmoset, the endangered
Arcadian Fox, and the
Devil's Tortoise. It's also one of the few places outside of Southeast Asia where
tarsiers thrive. Because of its location in the tropics, rain occurs almost daily, though the storms are usually short, giving way to daylight in less than an hour. For this reason, the islands have many pools, streams, and waterfalls.
The islands have had three different names since they were discovered by French explorers. When they first discovered the islands, they had been untouched by human contact, and so the islands were given names that reflected their heavenly beauty. What the explorers soon discovered was that the islands were surrounded by treacherous reefs, and there were only a few spots for their ships to squeeze in. Tropical storms frequently hound the islands, and the islanders can expect a hurricane to pass through at least once every five years. Most of the "natives" on the island are descended from these early explorers that shipwrecked on the reefs and were forced to live on the islands and survive.
When the population began to expand in the late 1500s, disease broke out and wiped out most of the population. There are rumors of cannibalism, sacrifice, and other unsavory things during this time. It became a place where sailors avoided, if possible, so naturally, pirates took to it. It was a great place to not only hide their treasure, but also find it. The ships that were destroyed by the reefs often had valuable cargo, and to this day, the archipelago remains a popular treasure hunting spot.
The waters surrounding the islands have a vibrant marine life, including dangerous sharks and venomous sea snakes, but attacks are rare now that people know how to avoid them. The snakes are known to live both on land and in the water, but clinics are well-stocked with anti-venom. While the islands have many calm coves and lagoons, the tide can be unpredictable and has cost many people their lives, so islanders know to be careful. Once a year, it usually claims at least one tourist's life.
Island History Timeline1500s
The islands were officially discovered by French explorer Gaspar Baptiste in 1509 and established as a French colony. Then, it was called "La Porte du Ciel" (Heaven's Gate). The larger islands were quite fertile, and sugar cane, tobacco, and marijuana were early exports.
1600s
After the outbreak of disease that nearly ended living on the islands, agriculture was given up in favor of pirating as the main source if income. The islands gained a mysterious reputation. Ships that went near would not return, and the pirates who lived on the islands began to call it "Devil's End" instead of its given name. Though control of the islands would often switch hands, pirates continued to use the island chain as their headquarters through the late 1700s.
1700s
Even in the late 1700s, when the British took it over and renamed the archipelago "Pala", many people still referred to the area as Devil's End. After the pirates were rooted, and since the French seemed to have lost interest, the islands became an official British colony and remain so to this day.
1800s
Agriculture returned to the large islands in the 1800s. Tobacco and marijuana were in higher demand, but sugar cane was also a staple crop. The township of Gatestown really boomed and began to grow, and the islands were used as a base for the navy, though their strategic value would be diminished over time as the British lost control of many other colonies in the area.
1900s
Marijuana was outlawed in the early 1900s and growth of it, except on some of the private islands and for illegal purposes, ceased in Pala. Because travel was becoming easier, several resorts opened on the islands and tourism began to take over as the main driver for the economy. With the exception of Little Eden and its satellite islands, every island has a resort on it. Little Eden, starting in the 50s, became a nature preserve and is completely closed off to the public. The stray tourist will risk it every now and then, but several have not returned, a few have been killed by the "wildlife" on the island, or have been caught by island authorities. Being caught trying to go to Little Eden is a hefty fine for island natives, and a permanent ban from Pala for any tourists.
2000s
Though the islands have thrived from tourism, many of its residents tend to appear poor. While many wealthy people have summer estates, condos, or time-shares, the actual citizens tend to be working class, living in small homes, and fishing for food. Theft is a common problem, as well as domestic violence, though the main source of trouble is caused by bored teenagers doing drugs or engaging in acts of vandalism.
Population & DemographicsThe official population is 57,000, but during peak tourism season can balloon up to 90,000. Most of the population resides in Gatestown, but the exact number of people on the islands is never really known, since people are coming and leaving all the time. There are also rumored to be small "colonies" of illegal residents that live on the smaller islands, or have just managed to stay on the larger islands unnoticed.
The population of Pala is 58% caucasian, 23% Hispanic, 16% African-American. The other 3% covers Asian, Middle-Eastern, and other ethnicities. Racism is usually not a problem, though, since people live in such close proximity to each other and don't generally want to have trouble with neighbors they can't get away from.
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